Camping options near Ericson, Nebraska include a range of state recreation areas and private RV parks throughout the Calamus River region. Located in the Nebraska Sandhills at approximately 2,100 feet elevation, this area experiences hot summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F from June through August and cold winters dropping below freezing. Most campgrounds in this region experience strong seasonal visitation patterns with limited availability during summer holiday weekends.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The Calamus Reservoir area offers exceptional fishing for walleye, northern pike, and white bass. Valley View Flat Campground at Calamus SRA provides convenient lake access. "Spent a night here by the water and experienced a beautiful sunset. Its a perfect place to camp for a night or kayak for an afternoon," notes one Calamus visitor.
Rodeo events: Summer visitors can catch local rodeo competitions near camping areas. "Nice place for an evening or morning walk to stretch legs around rodeo arena, between baseball fields and then around and small pond," mentions a camper at Carney Park in nearby O'Neill.
Water recreation: Boating and swimming are popular activities on Calamus Reservoir from May through September. "This lake is amazing — clean and with a sand base," reports one visitor to the reservoir, though they note camping spots are "limited and close to others."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many area campgrounds maintain well-kept amenities. At Valley View Flat Campground, a tent camper reported "Bathrooms were very clean and overall had an amazing experience. I would recommend this spot to anyone especially for tenting."
Level camping sites: Riverside Campground in Ord features seven sites designed for easy setup. Similarly, at Carney Park, visitors appreciate that "sites are level. Clean showers and restroom."
Convenience stores: Supplies are accessible at several locations around Calamus Reservoir. One camper at Valley View Flat noted "Chopped wood for sale at the nearest gas station," providing easy access to campfire supplies without leaving the area.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: While some campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis, others require planning. At Fort Knox Campground, "you must make a reservation" as one visitor discovered when "looking for a place to land at 4:30 pm on a Sunday in June with no reservations."
Self-contained requirements: Some facilities have limited amenities. Fort Knox Campground requires self-sufficiency as "there was no restroom on site" according to a recent visitor.
Seasonal operations: Operating seasons vary significantly between campgrounds. Carney Park runs "April to September" while others maintain year-round accessibility.
Payment systems: Many smaller campgrounds use self-registration. One camper at Carney Park mentioned "Self serve payment envelopes" and "Stay up to 3 days without checking in to the city offices."
Tips for camping with families
Budget-friendly options: City parks offer economical camping. At Riverside Park Camping Burwell, visitors find "City Park, 30A service, 4 long pads, room for a few others. Park amenities, 2 single bathrooms, 1 coin shower. Clean and maintained. $10 per night."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Carney Park, one family mentioned a "cute play park with swings" making it more appealing for those camping with kids.
Swimming areas: Family-friendly water access points are available at multiple locations. One camper at Calamus Reservoir specifically mentioned "Nice swimming and fishing spots" making it suitable for families with children of various ages.
Emergency services: Local assistance is readily available if needed. One Carney Park visitor who "Locked my keys in the truck" reported "The O'Neill Police opened my truck, within 20 minutes. I noticed they also patrolled the area."
Tips from RVers
Site dimensions: RV sites vary significantly across area campgrounds. At Willow Springs RV Park in Burwell, campers find "60 Sites. Tents sites: 25. 50 pull thrus. 60 full hookups" providing numerous options for different rig sizes.
Full hookup availability: Several RV parks offer comprehensive services. At Taylor RV Park, one camper appreciated that "It has full electrical, water and sewage hookups," noting it was particularly helpful "when we were left somewhat stranded" with vehicle issues.
Shower facilities: Coin-operated showers are common at area campgrounds. At Valley View Flat, a visitor reported "You have to pay for showers. 1.25 for 6 minutes got the job done."
Road conditions: Construction can affect access to some RV parks. One camper at Carney Park warned "They are doing road construction and they have road completely torn up and one way section of road into campground," suggesting visitors should check current conditions before arrival.
